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Press Release
NEW ORLEANS MAN
KILLS OWN DOG IN
A HORRIFIC ACT OF ANIMAL CRUELTY
NEW ORLEANS, LA
– (10/24/07) Tuesday evening a
Louisiana SPCA humane officer
responded to a horrific act of
animal cruelty after being called to
the scene by NOPD responding to an
incident where a Lakeview man had
apparently killed one of his two
dogs with an ax. Fabian Mumme, of
the 6700 block of Avenue A in
Lakeview, was arrested on the scene
by NOPD officers and booked with
municipal cruelty.
The dog that was fatally attacked, a
male dog named Wolfie, was a black
lab-mix. The second dog, Inga, a
female shepherd-Chow mix, was found
tethered in the front yard and
unharmed when police arrived. She
was transported from the home
Tuesday evening by LA/SPCA and is
currently being sheltered at the
agency’s shelter.
What event or events led to Mumme’s
actions to kill his dog is currently
under investigation. Mumme
reportedly stated that he attempted
to use a baseball bat, but “that
wasn’t working” so he resorted to
using an ax. NOPD arrived on the
scene after receiving calls from
neighbors reporting the sounds of a
dog screaming. When police arrived,
Mumme was reportedly found digging a
hole in a failed attempt to dispose
of Wolfie’s body in his backyard,
where the fatal attack took place.
Even the most seasoned humane
officers were stunned by the
senseless brutality and extreme
suffering the dog endured. Kathryn
Destreza, LA/SPCA’s Director of
Humane Law Enforcement said, “This
is a brutal and horrific act of
violence and warrants a charge much
more severe than what we typically
bring to municipal court when
enforcing animal cruelty charges.
This animal suffered unimaginable
pain and agony and this was without
a doubt an intentional act to kill
the dog.” Destreza will appear in
municipal court Wednesday morning, 9
AM, in an attempt to petition the
court to increase the charge to
aggravated cruelty.
Officer Jennifer Ranero, the LA/SPCA
humane officer who responded to the
call, echoed Destreza. “The wounds
suggest that he did not die
instantly and that he obviously
suffered.” Ranero also stated that
the backyard was littered with a
trail of blood. “There was blood
everywhere,” she said, describing
Mumme’s debris-strewn property,
which still reflects damage from
Katrina.
LA/SPCA records indicate that humane
officers responded to numerous
complaint calls for “dog roaming”
involving Mumme between January 17,
2006 and February 18, 2006. There
were no reports of animal cruelty
during these previous calls. A memo
on one of the calls notes that the
“owner [Mumme] became extremely
belligerent, and [LA/SPCA] officer
made the decision to leave the scene
because he sensed his personal
safety was in jeopardy.”
“We have had a history with this
man, and it’s my understanding that
the NOPD has as well,” said Destreza.
“His aggression has clearly
escalated and we have to find a way
for all enforcement services and
social services to work together to
stop this type of violence before
they escalate to the level we’ve
witnessed today in this case.”
As standard in all humane law
enforcement cases, Inga will remain
under the care of the LA/SPCA during
the entire legal process.
LA/SPCA, the authority in Orleans
Parish on all animal welfare related
issues, serves the area as the
expert in animal cruelty
investigations and advises the
offices prosecuting these cases. If
you suspect any type of animal
cruelty please call the LA/SPCA at
504-368-5191, ext. 100. Reports can
also be reported online at
http://www.la-spca.org/forms/investigation_request.htm.
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The Louisiana
Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals is an
organization devoted to improving
the lives of animals and eliminating
the homelessness, neglect and abuse
that signal animal suffering.
Chartered in 1888, our history has
been paved with an understanding
that only through an improved
human-animal ethic can we better the
lives of companion animals and that
of our community. Our programs and
services are infused with the
highest standards of care and
compassion.
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